Two wildebeests killed as tourist plane crash-lands at Maasai Mara

The two wildebeests killed in Maasai Mara on August 16, 2019. [Standard]

An unknown number of tourists escaped death after their aircraft hit and killed two wildebeests that strayed unto the runway as it landed.

The incident occurred at Kichwa Tembo in the world-famous Masai Mara Game Reserve.

No casualties were reported in the accident involving a Safarilink plane.

Mara Triangle Tourism officer David Top said the plane's undercarriage was dislodged by the impact."

The impact dislodged the aircraft's undercarriage. [Standard]

Safarilink, through a press release, confirmed the aircraft was involved in an accident.

"The aircraft was carrying out our scheduled service with a routing Nairobi (Wilson) – Maasai Mara – Nairobi (Wilson)," read the statement seen by The Standard.

It is peak season at the Masai Mara Game Reserve and local and international tourists are trooping to the park to witness the annual wildebeest migration.

No casualties were reported in the accident involving a Safarilink plane. [Standard]

Safarilink said the initial report it had was that a couple of wildebeests ran across the runway as the plane landed.

"All passengers and crew on board are safe."

The aircraft is disabled. More engineers will be airlifted to the scene to assess the situation, the statement added.